The 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions participated in
the June 6, 1944, D-Day landings at Omaha Beach, Normandy. It was during the
bitter fighting along the beaches that the Rangers gained their official motto.
As the situation became critical on Omaha Beach, Brigadier General Norman D.
Cota, Assistant Division Commander of the 29th Infantry Division, stated that
the entire assault force must clear the beaches and advance inland. He then
turned to Lieutenant Colonel Max F. Schneider, commanding the 5th Ranger
Battalion, and said, "Rangers, lead the way!" The 5th Battalion
spearheaded the breakthrough that enabled the Allies to drive inland from the
invasion beaches.(http://www.soc.mil/75thrr/75thrrww2.shtml)

The picture
at the bottom of this page was shared with us
by Franck Maurand. Franck is a grateful citizen of France and an active member
of the Flowers of Remembrance Society in Normandy, France. This Society
tends the gravesites of many Rangers whose families may never see their loved
ones' final resting place. He is also an Honorary member of the RBA S&D.
Franck attended the services at Normandy this morning (June 6, 2003) and
promptly sent this photo and email into the website.

The Rangers have not been forgotten,
nor have their heroic efforts and grave sacrifices been lost in the hearts of
the French people. Thank you Franck for reminding our Rangers of your sincere
gratitude for the historic events initiated 59 years ago today.

Shortly
after Franck's message and photo were posted here, we received yet another email
from French citizen, Laurent Lefebvre, with this message and permission to post
the photo (to the left) from his site. This is one of many that are posted on
his website from June 6, 2003.